Secretary Chen sighed tiredly and walked out of Ning Nanxue's apartment building.

Mr. Ning's condition these days is really worrying. He locks himself in his work, not eating or drinking. How can his body bear it if he continues like this?

"Secretary Chen." A deep voice sounded in the night.

Secretary Chen was stunned and looked up. In the dim light, he recognized the person as Jiang Tingchen.

Jiang Tingchen was standing not far away. He looked a little thin, haggard, and his eyes were bloodshot. It was obvious that he had been waiting for a long time.

"Mr. Jiang." Secretary Chen greeted him a little awkwardly. He knew that there was a problem between Ning Nanxue and Jiang Tingchen, and he felt a little embarrassed to be caught in the middle.

Jiang Tingchen walked forward quickly, his tone anxious and with obvious worry: "Secretary Chen, how is Ning Nanxue? Is she...is she okay?" His voice was hoarse, revealing deep fatigue and regret.

Secretary Chen sighed and shook his head helplessly: "Boss Jiang, Boss Ning is in a very bad state. She has locked herself in her room and has ignored everything except work. She doesn't eat or sleep."

Jiang Tingchen's face turned even paler when he heard this, and his eyes were filled with pain: "She...she locked herself up? How long has it been?"

"She's been locked up in her room working since yesterday afternoon," Secretary Chen told her truthfully. "No one can persuade her. I'm worried her body won't be able to take it if she continues like this."

Jiang Tingchen's heart sank suddenly, and heartache surged into his heart like a tide. He clenched his fists tightly, his voice trembling: "She... does she hate me so much? She doesn't even want to see me?"

Secretary Chen was silent for a moment before he slowly spoke, his tone hinting, "Boss Jiang, Boss Ning is truly deeply hurt this time. She's such a proud person, and being deceived by the person she trusted the most is something no one would be able to accept."

Jiang Tingchen felt even more regretful after hearing this. He closed his eyes in pain, his voice choked with sobs: "I know, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have concealed my identity and lied to her."

"Boss Jiang, there's no point in saying this now." Secretary Chen sighed, "Boss Ning needs to calm down now. Give her some time."

Jiang Tingchen looked towards the apartment building anxiously: "I want to see her, I want to go up to see her, I want to explain everything to her in person." As he said that, he was about to walk into the building.

Secretary Chen quickly stopped him, his tone gentle but firm: "Boss Jiang, if you go up now, it will only backfire. Boss Ning is very emotional right now. If you force a meeting, it will only make her more disgusted."

Jiang Tingchen paused and stopped.

"Mr. Jiang, I know you're worried about Ms. Ning," Secretary Chen continued, "but now really isn't the time. You have to trust Ms. Ning. She's a rational person. Give her some time to calm down. Perhaps things can turn around."

Jiang Tingchen was silent. He understood that what Secretary Chen said made sense. Ning Nanxue probably didn't want to see him at all right now.

He suppressed the urge to see Ning Nanxue immediately and lowered his head dejectedly.

Secretary Chen looked at his painful expression and felt a little sorry for him. He sighed and said, "Mr. Jiang, please go back first. I will take good care of Mr. Ning for you. I will notify you as soon as there is any situation."

Jiang Tingchen raised his head and looked at Secretary Chen gratefully. He pleaded in a heavy tone, "Secretary Chen, I'm counting on you to take good care of her. If you need anything, please let me know at any time."

Secretary Chen nodded and agreed, but his heart was filled with helplessness.

Jiang Tingchen said goodbye to Secretary Chen with a sad look on his face, then turned and left the apartment building.

Secretary Chen looked at Jiang Tingchen's departing back, sighed again, shook his head, and turned back to his car.

In the hospital ward, Fu Chen's complexion had obviously improved. His face was no longer as pale as it had been in the past few days, and he looked more lively.

Xu Zhiru sat beside the bed, taking care of him gently and considerately, peeling the fruit carefully, then cutting it into small pieces and bringing it to Fu Chen's mouth with a toothpick.

Fu Chen opened his mouth and ate it, but his eyes were a little wandering, as if he didn't notice Xu Zhiru's attentiveness.

Fu's mother sat on the sofa in the ward, watching all this coldly and sneering at Xu Zhiru's actions.

She squinted at Xu Zhiru, her tone full of obvious sarcasm: "Zhiru, you've worked so hard, taking care of him here all day long. If someone didn't know, they would think you were his mother."

Hearing this, Xu Zhiru's face froze slightly, and her hands paused for a moment, but she soon regained her gentle smile and said softly, "Auntie, what are you talking about? It's my duty to take care of Fu Chen. He hasn't fully recovered yet, so I should take better care of him."

Mother Fu snorted coldly, curling her lips in disdain, her eyes becoming even more sarcastic and mean. "As you should? Haha, you really think of yourself as a member of the Fu family. Let me tell you, no matter how attentive you are, it won't change anything. Some people are destined not to be able to enter the Fu family."

Xu Zhiru's smile froze on her face, and a hint of hurt flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

She lowered her head and continued to peel the fruit. Her voice was low and a little aggrieved: "Auntie, I know you don't like me, but my heart for Fu Chen is true. I just want to take good care of him. I don't ask for anything else."

"You won't ask?" Mother Fu's voice rose sharply by several decibels, as if she had heard something funny. "You won't ask? If you didn't ask, would you be so persistent in pestering my son? Would you use those despicable means to force my son to marry you?"

Xu Zhiru's eyes instantly turned red, tears welling up in them. She looked at Fu Chen aggrievedly, her voice choked with sobs: "Fu Chen, look at Auntie, she misunderstood me again, I really didn't..."

Fu Chen had been looking out the window silently, as if he was thinking about something. When he heard Xu Zhiru's voice, he slowly turned his head and looked at her.

His eyes were complicated, with a hint of guilt, a hint of helplessness, and a hint of barely perceptible annoyance.

"Mom, please stop talking." Fu Chen frowned, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure. "Zhiru is doing this for my own good. Please don't always treat her like this."

Upon hearing this, Mother Fu flew into a rage. She stood up abruptly, pointed at Fu Chen's nose and cursed, "Look at you, you've really been bewitched by this vixen! She treated me like this, and you're still protecting her? I'm telling you, Fu Chen, if you dare to marry this woman, I'll sever our mother-son relationship!"

Fu Chen's face darkened, and his tone was filled with impatience: "Mom, can you please stop making trouble? I'm not well yet, can't you let me rest in peace?"

Mother Fu was so angry that she was shaking all over. She pointed at Fu Chen and was speechless for a long time. Finally, she snorted angrily, turned around abruptly, slammed the door and left.

Fu Chen and Xu Zhiru were the only ones left in the ward, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward and depressing.